Written Answers Thursday 28 June 2007

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address alcohol problems among young people.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to a zero tolerance approach to underage sales, and will hit hard those premises and individuals which sell to under 18s. We will also crack down on irresponsible price promotions that encourage young people to drink excessively and reduce the harm being done to our society and individuals’ own health.

Class Sizes

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the resources are in place to deliver class sizes of 20 for mathematics and English in S1 and S2 by September 2007.

Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-118 on 5 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Education

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it proposes to adopt to ensure that rural schools are included in rural development and regeneration strategies.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government believe that good quality educational services and facilities are an important part of the fabric of rural community life. The provision of these services is essentially a matter for local authorities, who have a key role to play in Community Planning Partnerships.

Education

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take steps to ensure that all complaints made by former residents of Kerelaw School are fully investigated.

Adam Ingram: I have asked Glasgow City Council to provide me with a report by 31 August 2007 that sets out the full council’s response to its Kerelaw investigation and the systems that have been put in place for the safety and protection of children in residential accommodation. As part of this report, I have asked for confirmation from the Council that the complaints made by children who were residents of Kerelaw have been investigated. The answer to question S3W-1138 on 19 June 2007 refers to the wider action I have taken following Glasgow’s report of the Kerelaw investigation.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Employment

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) regarding job diversification for workers currently employed at Dounreay.

Jim Mather: Economic development in the Caithness area is the responsibility of Highlands and Islands Enterprise. HIE has formed the Caithness Regeneration Partnership with Highlands Council and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to take forward an action plan to secure a diverse and sustainable economy post-Dounreay. Job diversification is one of the ways in which the partnership plans to maximise the opportunities available.

  The Scottish Executive participates in the Executive Board of the Partnership.

Environmental Justice

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to achieve environmental justice.

Michael Russell: Delivering environmental justice will, of course, be part of the key cross-cutting programmes to deliver this Government’s five strategic objectives. All communities and individuals have the right to expect a fairer, safer, healthier and greener environment to live, work and relax in.

  More immediately, and at a very practical level, I expect to announce shortly the names of the successful projects from across Scotland which will receive grants from the £2 million Environmental Justice Fund. This work will enhance specific areas that have suffered from environmental blight.This news will be warmly welcomed in the communities concerned.

European Funding

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support agencies or non-governmental organisations with the preparation of applications for funding under the EU LIFE+ funding regime.

Michael Russell: Arrangements from late summer are likely to comprise a combination of invitations of bids as in the past and dialogue with potential applicant bodies on possible packages of measures, building upon the known expertise and interest of the bodies. We expect Scottish Natural Heritage to play a leading role in advising on the development of proposals for funding of biodiversity projects in Scotland.

Families

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the providers of family support services regarding their services.

Adam Ingram: Scottish Executive officials have held regular discussions with the four national family support bodies - Scottish Marriage Care, Relate Scotland, Family Mediation Scotland and Stepfamily Scotland - as well as engaging with providers of local family support services on specific issues. These discussions have covered both strategic and practical issues in regard to the delivery of services.

Fire Service

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will assist Highlands and Islands fire services to build or refurbish any stations that are currently considered to be unfit for purpose.

Fergus Ewing: All Fire and Rescue Services are provided with annual allocations of capital and revenue funding which are based on an assessment of need. The government will continue to consider any bids for capital support received from Highlands and Islands and will be proactive in the reallocation of capital underspends accrued by other fire services.

Fire Service

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fire stations in use in the Highlands and Islands are considered to be unfit for purpose.

Fergus Ewing: The last inspection of Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service by the Fire Services Inspectorate did not identify any stations that were considered unfit for purpose. Provision of equipment and facilities is a matter for the Fire Board in the first instance.

Fisheries

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to reconvene the Sea Fisheries Advisory and Reference Group and when it will announce its intentions with regard to the Sea Fisheries Strategy.

Richard Lochhead: I am keen to work with the industry to take forward many of the proposals developed by the Sea Fisheries Advisory and Reference (SeaFAR) Group.

  I am currently reviewing the format and purpose of the group and will be meeting stakeholders soon to discuss the best way forward.

Health

Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how health outcomes for people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Scotland compare with outcomes in countries such as Denmark.

Shona Robison: We are aware that survival rates in Denmark are considerably better than those in Scotland. Survival rates in Scotland are increasing however, and the initiatives set out in the answer to question S3W-1096 on 25 June 2007 are expected to lead to further improvements.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Hospitals

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all medical specialisms offered in the accident and emergency department at Monklands Hospital on 6 June 2007.

Nicola Sturgeon: This is a matter for NHS Lanarkshire.

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on private landlord registration.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress each local authority has made in reaching full operation of private landlord registration.

Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-953 on 21 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings ministers have had with (a) local authorities, (b) private landlord organisations and (c) housing groups to discuss how best to secure the implementation of private landlord registration.

Stewart Maxwell: There have been no ministerial meetings with housing groups, local authorities or private landlord organisations to discuss implementation of private landlord registration. However, officials meet with these groups regularly.

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that properties which do not have a registered private landlord cannot secure housing benefit payments.

Stewart Maxwell: The legislation governing the registration of private landlords set out in the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 includes provision for the suspension of the tenant’s liability to pay rent where the landlord should be and is not registered with the local authority. Housing benefit is not payable where there is no rent liability. We have worked with the Department for Work and Pensions to make registration officers and housing benefit officers aware of the importance of communicating to ensure that housing benefit is not paid in these circumstances. The Scottish government will monitor the implementation of these provisions and determine their effectiveness.

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take against any local authority not implementing private landlord registration.

Stewart Maxwell: All local authorities are making progress in implementing private landlord registration but I would like to see more rapid progress in some areas. The Scottish government is working closely with local authorities to help them in this process.

Housing

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its approach is to supporting the development of more affordable housing in (a) rural areas and (b) Orkney.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific measures it is taking to support the development of more affordable housing in (a) rural areas and (b) Orkney.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is currently assessing a broad range of housing issues across the country and recognises the acute shortage of affordable homes whether in urban, rural or island communities. Our approach includes improving the supply and affordability of housing through targeted investment and by removing barriers to provision. We are also pursuing a new Housing Supply Task Force, and implementing the manifesto proposal for a new Scottish Housing Support Fund.

  In 2007-08, the Affordable Housing Investment Programme is £142 million in rural areas and £6 million in Orkney.

Housing

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reform the structure of the tourism network.

Jim Mather: VisitScotland is already a high performing organisation which has demonstrated that it can make a very effective contribution to the growth of Scottish tourism. Nevertheless, I am determined to ensure that the structures we have in place to support Scottish tourism are the right ones, and I am therefore working with the industry, and the public sector organisations which work alongside it, to identify whether these structures need to be adjusted. Any proposals for reform will be announced in due course.

Justice

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns about the recent court decision in Perth Sheriff Court concerning the Kinfauns Castle estate.

Kenny MacAskill: The Government does not comment on decisions made by individual sheriffs. Ministers respect the independence of the judiciary.

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive in how many cases dealt with by Glasgow Sheriff Court in the last year the time lapse between the petition appearance and an indictment being served was (a) five months or less, (b) six months, (c) seven months, (d) eight months and (e) nine months or more.

Right Hon Elish Angiolini QC: The cumulative number of indictments served on accused for each period in Glasgow Sheriff Court cases in 2006-07 is shown in the following table.

  Indictments Issued In 2006-07 for Glasgow

  

Within 5 months of Appearance on Petition
603
39%


Within 6 months of Appearance on Petition
649
42%


Within 7 months of Appearance on Petition
721
47%


Within 8 months of Appearance on Petition
855
55%


Within 9 months of Appearance on Petition
1,336
86%


Over 9 months from Appearance on Petition
214
14%


Total Indicted 
1,550
100%



  Notes:

  1. The information in this table has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Case Management Database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies.

  2. The database is accused-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of accused indicted rather than the number of cases as there will often be different first petition appearance dates for cases with multiple accused.

  3. The table excludes any accused indicted without first having appeared on petition.

Marine Environment

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government concerning the provisions of the UK Marine Bill or any proposed Scottish Marine Bill and when it will announce its legislative intentions with regard to the protection of the marine environment.

Richard Lochhead: On Monday 18 June 2007 I met with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, his fellow ministers and with ministers from the devolved administrations. We discussed many matters including the UK Marine Bill.

  I have previously indicated to the Parliament our intentions and on Tuesday 19 June 2007 at the Oceans 07 conference in Aberdeen I re-iterated my support for a Scottish Marine Bill. These discussions are continuing. Broadly, we believe marine legislation should deliver a simpler regulatory system for the marine environment, more action on marine nature conservation, a strategic national approach, and greater local control over marine and coastal areas. I hope to bring forward plans in due course.

Marine Environment

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to reconvene the Advisory Group on Marine and Coastal Strategy and when it will announce its intentions with regard to the implementation of this group’s recommendations.

Richard Lochhead: I have previously indicated to the Parliament our intentions and on Tuesday 19 June 2007 at the Oceans 07 conference in Aberdeen I re-iterated my support for a Scottish Marine Bill. These discussions are continuing. Broadly, we believe marine legislation should deliver a simpler regulatory system for the marine environment, more action on marine nature conservation, a strategic national approach, and greater local control over marine and coastal areas. I hope to bring forward plans in due course. It is important that this bill builds on the very useful work of the Environment and Rural Development Committee in the last Parliament and the work of the Advisory Group on Marine and Coastal Strategy, which both made recommendations about these issues. I am currently considering both the committee’s and group’s recommendations and will respond in due course.

National Health Service

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the contract to build and provide a new in-patient acute psychiatric facility in Lanarkshire will be signed.

Nicola Sturgeon: This is a matter for NHS Lanarkshire.

Nuclear Power

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to carry out an economic impact assessment on the effect on the north Ayrshire economy of the closure of the Hunterston B nuclear power station.

Jim Mather: I understand that British Energy, the operator of Hunterston B, will make a decision on whether to extend the life of the facility in April next year. The Scottish Executive therefore, has no plans to conduct such an assessment.

Regional Selective Assistance

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many offers of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) have been made to indigenous firms in (a) Dundee City, (b) Angus and (c) Aberdeenshire in each of the last five years, also expressed as a percentage of the total number of RSA offers.

Jim Mather: The following table provides details of the number of RSA offers made to indigenous firms in the Dundee City Council Area in the last five financial years. It also shows what percentage these are in relation to the total number of RSA offers.

  There were no RSA offers made to firms in the Angus and Aberdeenshire Council Areas in these years.

  

Financial Year
Total No. of RSA Offers
RSA Offers made in Dundee City Council Area
Offers made to Indigenous Firms in Dundee City Council Area
%


2006-07
164
11
7
4.3%


2005-06
157
5
4
2.5%


2004-05
174
5
4
2.3%


2003-04
167
10
5
3.0%


2002-03
193
7
4
2.1%

Regional Selective Assistance

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average value has been of offers of Regional Selective Assistance made to indigenous firms in (a) Dundee City, (b) Angus and (c) Aberdeenshire in each of the last five years.

Jim Mather: The average value of RSA offers to indigenous firms in the Dundee City Council Area is as follows:

  

Year
Amount


2006-07
£442,143


2005-06
£143,250


2004-05
£337,500


2003-04
£181,400


2002-03
£120,000



  There were no RSA offers made to firms in the Angus and Aberdeenshire local authority areas in these years.

Renewable Energy

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what whether the application for Special Protection Area designation will be affected proposed wind farm development within Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park.

Michael Russell: Any decision on the proposed Special Protection Area in Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park will be made in full compliance with the requirements of the EC Birds Directive. Our interpretation of those requirements will recognise relevant case law including the ruling of the European Court of Justice that member states are not authorised to take account of economic factors when choosing and defining the boundaries of Special Protection Areas.

Renewable Energy

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will release the public inquiry reporter’s findings and recommendations from the public local inquiry in relation to the Corlic Hill wind farm application within the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park.

Jim Mather: Scottish ministers will release the public local inquiry report, once the application is determined. The consent decision will be announced and the details, including the inquiry report, made available on the Scottish Executive website.

Roads

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-228 by Stewart Stevenson on 11 June 2007, what the timescales are for each proposed improvement.

Stewart Stevenson: A substantive reply will be issued following my statement to Parliament on Wednesday 27 June 2007.

Rural Development

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-584 by Richard Lochhead on 14 June 2007, how much of the estimated cost of £120,000 per new entrant over the next six years of the Scottish Rural Development Programme will reach each new entrant and what proportion will be spent on administration costs.

Richard Lochhead: Under EU Regulations, the maximum grant that can be provided under the New Entrants measures is €40,000 (c. £27,000). Within this maximum, officials are set to consult with the industry on the precise details of the scheme. The entire budget of £10 million will be available to new entrants.

Schools

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can guarantee that any council tax freeze imposed on Glasgow City Council by the Executive will not prevent the council from building the new schools planned for Milton and Ruchill in the Glasgow Maryhill constituency.

Maureen Watt: Discussions are taking place with local government, as part of the on-going spending review process, with a view to delivering a council tax freeze from 2008-09. At this stage, it is too early to speculate on the impact of what may emerge from those discussions. However, irrespective of the outcome, it will remain a matter for each local authority to determine how it uses the resources at its disposal to meet local needs and circumstances, including specific aspects of its school building programme.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to appoint a new chair of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Michael Russell: A new Chair of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency is expected to be appointed to serve from 1 January 2008.

Scottish Natural Heritage

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it, or its agencies, are taking to implement policies to ensure the conservation of species listed in Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) species framework.

Michael Russell: The Species Action Framework is being implemented through a partnership of statutory and voluntary bodies, with SNH in the lead. SNH set up an internal Programme Management Group shortly after the launch, and established Species Leads for all 32 species on the Species Action List.

  The Species Leads have been in discussion with external partners and five-year implementation plans for each species are being produced. SNH has committed approximately £800,000 to 26 individual, new, management-related projects to date. Resources are also being provided by other partners. SNH will also be contributing £150,000 to the Joint Work Programme on native deer, in collaboration with the Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS) to dovetail with the framework objectives.

Scottish Water

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to separate Scottish Water’s billing of customers from the collection of council tax and whether this will be planned in the current financial year.

Stewart Stevenson: There are no plans to change the current arrangements this financial year.

Tourism

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that the tourism sector develops in a sustainable way.

Jim Mather: Scotland’s tourism strategy – the Tourism Framework for Change – sets out an action plan for growing Scotland’s tourism revenues in a sustainable way, and this government is committed to working with the industry to ensure that this is delivered. A Sustainable Tourism Partnership has been established, with membership from the industry and all the public sector organisations which work alongside Scottish tourism, including the Scottish Executive. This partnership will work together to ensure that Scottish tourism grows in a way which is sustainable – economically, socially and environmentally.

Tourism

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the potential for spreading the benefits of tourism more widely within Scotland.

Jim Mather: There is real potential for tourism benefits to be spread across Scotland, and indeed this has already started happening. Many visitors come to Scotland for a city break, so VisitScotland promotes all of Scotland’s cities rather than just the traditional tourist destinations. Similarly, when visitors are considering a city break, VisitScotland’s marketing encourages them to consider leaving the city for part of their trip, to experience other parts of the local area. Many visitors are attracted by Scotland’s wild landscape, and want a truly authentic Scottish experience far from the tourist hotspots, so there is real potential for these more remote areas to benefit from the tourism economy, and again VisitScotland marketing supports this. There is, however, without doubt more that could be done to encourage visitors to visit other parts of Scotland and the government will encourage VisitScotland to support this approach.

Transport

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to take forward the previous administration’s plans for an enhanced demand responsive transport grant scheme.

Stewart Stevenson: Yes. The new Enhanced Demand Responsive Transport Initiative will encompass the current funding streams for the Rural Community Transport Initiative, the Rural Public Passenger Transport Grant Scheme and the current Demand Responsive Transport Initiative.

Transport

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to ensure that an enhanced demand responsive transport grant scheme receives as much funding as was previously available under the Rural Community Transport Initiative and the Demand Responsive Transport and Rural Public Passenger Transport grant schemes.

Stewart Stevenson: Our intention, subject to the outcome of the 2007 Strategic Spending Review, is that the initial budget for the Enhanced Demand Responsive Transport Initiative will be at least the combined present budgets of the three current funding streams, increased to allow for inflation.

Waste Management

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to promote a diverse rural economy though waste management improvements.

Richard Lochhead: The Waste and Resources Action Programme provides a number of capital grants to support the provision of recycling and composting infrastructure. Some of these grants in the past have gone to rural enterprises and some of the infrastructure may take agricultural waste.

Wildlife

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government concerning a review of, and any legislative changes to, the Game Acts; whether there are any plans to conduct a review, and when it will announce its intentions.

Michael Russell: Amendments are currently being made to the Game Acts applying in England and Wales following a review of that legislation. There is a wide range of similar legislation applying to these matters in Scotland which does not appear to have been looked at for some considerable time. We will consider in due course whether a review of this legislation would produce benefits consistent with our wider priorities.

Wildlife

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many licences it has issued under section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in each of the last five years, stating in each case the species concerned and purpose of the licence and whether it has any plans to review its licensing policy.

Michael Russell: Details of the licences issued by the Executive under section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in each of the last five years (2002 to 2006) are listed as follows. There are currently no plans to review licensing policy. Scottish Executive and Scottish Natural Heritage officials are, however, jointly considering measures to simplify and streamline the application process.

  Wild Birds

  Section 16(1)(a) permits Scottish ministers to issue licences to control protected species of birds for the purposes of scientific research.

  Licences Issued for the Purposes of Scientific Research

  

Species
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


Ruddy duck
 
1
 
 
 



  Section 16(1)(cb) permits Scottish ministers to issue licences to control protected species of birds for the purposes of conserving fauna.

  Licences Issued for the Purposes of Conserving Fauna

  

Species
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


Ruddy duck
 
 
 
 
2



  Section 16(1)(e) permits Scottish ministers to issue licences to control protected species of birds for the purposes of falconry or aviculture.

  Licences Issued for the Purposes of Falconry (species taken by falcon)

  

Species
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


Meadow pipit/skylark/blackbird
1
 
1
 
 


Meadow pipit/skylark
 
1
1
 
 


Meadow pipit/skylark/blackbird/song thrush
 
 
1
 
 


Crow/rook
 
 
 
1
 


Crows
 
 
 
 
1


Meadow pipit
 
 
 
 
1


Herring gull
 
 
 
 
1



  Licences Issued for the Purposes of Aviculture, Exempting Keepers from the Necessity of Ringing a Schedule 4 Bird, Indicated in Section 7 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

  

Species
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


Golden eagle
1
8
 
6
 


Parrot crossbill
4
2
1
3
 


Gyr Falcon
4
11
27
4
13


Barbary Falcon
 
1
 
 
 


Scottish Crossbill
 
 
3
2
4


Stellar’s sea eagle
 
 
 
5
 


Gyr Falcon x Gyr Saker
 
 
 
4
1


Peregrine Falcon
 
 
 
2
1


Gyr Falcon x Peregrine
 
 
 
 
1


Northern Hobby
 
 
 
 
8



  Licences Issued Under Section 16 (1)(i) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as Amended)

  Section 16(1)(i) permits Scottish ministers to issue licences to control protected species of birds for the purposes of preserving public health or public or air safety.

  Licences Issued for the Purposes of Preserving Air Safety

  

Species
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


Common gull
1
1
2
3
3


Black-headed Gull/Mallard/Tufted Duck/Mute Swan*
 
 
1
1
 


Buzzard
 
1
2
3
 


Heron
 
 
1
1
 


Curlew
1
 
2
1
1


Oystercatcher
 
 
1
 
 


Whooper Swan/Buzzard/Greylag Goose*
 
 
 
1
 


Ringed plover
 
 
 
1
1


Whooper swan
 
 
 
1
 


Greylag goose
 
 
 
 
2


Black-headed gull
 
 
 
 
1


Common gull/herring gull*
 
1
1
 
 


Rook
1
 
 
 
 



  Note: *Licence issued for more than one species.

  Licences Issued for the Purposes of Preserving Public Health or Public Safety

  

Species
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


Common gull
2
 
9
17
13


Herring gull
 
 
1
2
2


Black-headed gull
 
 
1
1
3


Arctic tern
 
 
3
2
 


Arctic tern and common tern
 
 
 
 
2


Arctic tern/ common tern/black-headed gull
 
 
 
 
1


Common Gull/ Buzzard/ Arctic tern/ House Martin
 
7
 
 
 


Sparrow
 
 
1
1
 


Blackbird
 
 
 
1
 


Feral Pigeon
 
 
1
1
 



  Licences issued for control of birds in food-stores: no information available.

  Licences Issued Under Section 16 (1)(k) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended)

  Section 16(1)(k) permits Scottish ministers to issue licences to control protected species of birds for the purposes of preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, fisheries or inland waters.

  To Prevent Serious Damage to Agriculture

  

Species
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


Geese*
115
116
181
157
150


Gulls
Nil
Nil
1
1
1


Ravens
26
34
43
53
57


Widgeons
Nil
1
Nil
1
Nil



  Note:*Geese species.

  

Species
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


Barnacle
24
23
25
23
25


Greenland White-fronted
1
1
Nil
Nil
Nil


Resident Greylag in Sutherland, Caithness, Lewis and the Uists
15
18
18
25
24


Greylag, Canada and Pink-footed
75
74
138
109
101


Total
115
116
181
157
150



  Licences Issued for the Purpose of Preventing Serious Damage to Fisheries

  

Species
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


Cormorant
15
17
11
12
13


Merganser
6
4
2
3
2


Goosander
12
13
8
11
8


Heron
1
0
1
0
1


Eider duck
2
1
0
1
0



  Section 16(2)(a) permits Scottish ministers to grant licences for the purpose of providing food for human consumption in relation to a gannet on the island of Sula Sgeir.

  

Species
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


Gannet
1
1
1
1
1



  Section 16(2)(b) permits Scottish ministers to grant licences for the purpose of providing food for human consumption in relation to a gull’s egg.

  

Species
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


Herring gull, lesser black-backed gullBlack-headed gullCommon gull
4
4
2
4
1



  Wild Animals/Plants

  Section 16(3)(f) permits Scottish ministers to grant licences to control protected species of mammals for the purposes of preserving public health or public safety:

  Licences Issued for the Purpose of Preserving Public Health or Public Safety

  

Species
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


Pine marten
 
 
4
2
1



  Section 16(3)(g) permits Scottish ministers to issue licences to control protected species of mammals for the purposes of preventing the spread of disease, and

  Section 16(3)(h) permits Scottish ministers to issue licences to control protected species of mammals for the purposes of preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber or any other form of property or to fisheries.

  Licences Issued Under Section 16(3)( f), (g) or (h)

  

Species
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


Otter
Nil
Nil
1
Nil
Nil


Pine Marten
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil



  Section 16(4)(a) permits Scottish ministers to grant licences to, among other things, sell eggs.

  

Species
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


Black-headed gull
1
1
0
0
0



  Section 16(4)(b) permits Scottish ministers to issue licences for the purposes of selling dead wild animals or plants, or any part of, or anything derived from, such an animal or plant.

  

Species
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


Wigeon/mallard
 
 
 
1
 


Pine marten
3
 
2
1
2


Otter
3
2
3
 
 


Red squirrel
1
1
1
 
2


Grass snake
 
 
1
 
 


Pipistrelle
 
2
 
 
 


Wild cat
1
 
 
 
 


Adder
 
 
 
 
1


Freshwater pearl mussel
0
1
1
1
11


Oblong woodsia
 
 
 
1
1



  Section 16(4)(c) permits Scottish Ministers to issue licences for the purposes of introduction of new species not ordinarily resident in and not a regular visitor to Great Britain in a wild state.

  

Species
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


Mink
1
1
 
 
 


Barn Owl
4
3
4
3
2


Rhizophagus grandis
 
 
 
1
 



  General Licences

  General Licences are issued annually under Section 16 to permit specific actions to be undertaken in accordance with the conditions of the licences.

  To allow the keeping of birds in certain cage traps for pest control purposes.

  To permit the sale of certain captive bred native species of birds.

  To permit the competitive showing of certain captive bred live wild birds.

  To permit the competitive showing of certain captive bred live wild birds.

  To kill certain birds with the aid of artificial light, sighting devices, mirrors or other dazzling devices.

  To sell feathers and parts of certain dead wild birds.

  To sell dead birds.

  To sell certain species of wildfowl.

  To kill or take certain birds, including the taking, damaging or destruction of their nests or the taking or destruction of their eggs for the purpose of conserving wild birds.

  To kill or take certain birds including the taking, damaging or destruction of their nests or the taking or destruction of their eggs for the purpose of preserving public health or air safety.

  To sell certain gulls’ eggs.

  To keep disabled wild birds (Schedule 4).

  To kill or take certain birds and take or destroy nests or eggs for the purpose of preserving air safety.

  To allow the keeping of certain birds in show cages for training purposes.

  To take birds’ eggs for the purpose of removing unsuccessful eggs from nest boxes.

  To take the eggs of the Mallard Duck for the purposes of incubation.

  To permit the exhibition for competitive purposes of a certain captive bred native species of Bird (Mealy Redpoll).

  To permit the sale of a certain captive bred species of bird (Mealy Redpoll).

  To permit Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners to keep certain birds which are receiving professional treatment and which are listed in Schedule 4.

  To permit the keeping of a Schedule 4 bird for a maximum of seven days after hatching.

  To keep certain disabled wild-bred birds (Schedule 4) for the purpose of Rehabilitation.

  To kill or take certain birds including the taking, damaging or destruction of their nests or the taking or destruction of their eggs for the purpose of preventing the spread of disease and serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, fisheries and inland water.

  To kill or take certain wild birds by the use of a semi-automatic weapon for the purpose of preserving public health or air safety; preventing the spread of disease or serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber, fisheries.

Wildlife

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether snaring is an indiscriminate method of taking or killing wild animals under Regulation 41 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994 as amended by the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2007.

Michael Russell: Interpretation of the law is a matter for the courts in the particular circumstances of the case in question. Following the recent public consultation, I expect to make an announcement after the summer recess on our intentions in relation to the law on snaring.